Goodwill’s Color Me Asheville: A Night of Color, Community, and $20k for Bounty & Soul

Last night, Asheville showed up and so did the runway! On the evening of April 17th, the 10th annual Color Me Asheville fashion show lit up The Orange Peel for a night full of vibrant color and generosity — six teams of designers, dozens of models, a crowd full of passionate community members, and in the most delightful surprise of the evening, a crew of food mascot puppets made just for Bounty & Soul.

The result? Over $20,204 raised for our mission to create communities where everyone has the right to eat well, be nourished, and thrive.

Colors through the decades

This year’s Color Me Asheville carried extra meaning. Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina, the 2026 show tasked each of the six design teams with a double challenge: dress five models in a specific color, and draw inspiration from a specific decade of the 20th century — using materials sourced almost entirely from NWNC Goodwill stores.

The creativity on that runway was extraordinary. After each group took the stage, the audience voted for their favorite. When the night was over, The Three Graces walked away with the top honor for their stunning Purple collection.

A Bounty & Soul moment

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came courtesy of the Street Creature Puppet Collective, who made a Bounty & Soul-themed appearance that had the crowd buzzing. The food mascot costumes were designed by 2024 Color Me Asheville winner Sheila Thibodeaux.

Throughout the show, audience members were invited to donate to Bounty & Soul through QR codes in their programs with Goodwill pledging to match up to $5,000. The generosity of this community never ceases to amaze us.

Thank you

To Goodwill of Northwest North Carolina, thank you for 100 years of impact, and for choosing Bounty & Soul as your partner this year. We are humbled by your generosity and your commitment to this community.

To every producer, designer, model, volunteer, and supporter who made Color Me Asheville possible, thank you. Nights like this remind us why we do what we do. Together, we are building a community where everyone has the opportunity to eat well, be nourished, and thrive.